Marking and dropping attachment for planters



W, I. SENTBR, Marking and DroppingAttach ment f rPlaJnter.

Patented M ar. 9, 1880.

j/aj 7mm ATTC-RNEY:

N.PETER S. FHOIQLII'HOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D. 0

carrying the seed-hoppers A at its ends, and

UNITED STAT S PATENT WILLIAM F. SENTER, OFMARSHALL, MISSOURI.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 225,426, dated March 9, 1880.

Application filed August 21, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. SENTER, of Marshall, in the county of Salem and State of Missouri, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Marking and Dropping Attachments for Planters; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this speci fioation, and to theletters and ti gures of reference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawings is a representation of longitudinal central vertical section of my invention. Fig. 21s a top view of the same, and Fig. 3 is a detail.

' This invention has relation to improvements in marking and dropping attachments for cornplanters; and the nature of the invention consists in certain novel arrangements and combinations of devices whereby important results are obtained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter A designates the usual runners of a corn-planter,

provided with the usual dropper'slide B. Conmeeting the runners in front and rear are the beams a a, to which is bolted the draft-bar b,

carrying on its front end a vertically-swingin g tongue.

The runner-frame is connected pivotallyto the axle of the transporting and covering wheels B by means of the reaeh-rods b, and the bar B supporting the drivers seat, is bolted to said axle and pivoted to said frame, so as not to interfere with the vertical movements of the latter. These features are old and well known, and no claim is made thereto. Erected on the bar I), in front of the beam a and overhanging the same, is a bracket, 0, between which and said beam is journaled the horizontally-vibrating bolster G, havingin its enlarged middle part a slot, 8. Extending endwisethrough this bolster is a metallic shaft, 0, upon which is journaled a cam, d, and sprocket or chain wheel d, inside of slots, the cam and wheel being made in one piece usu ally, or coupled together in any suitable way.

The ends of shaft 0 project beyond the ends of the bolster, forming journals .6, upon which the front ends of the side bars, f, of the marker-frame D have their bearings, and upon which the said frame vibrates vertically. The cam 01 has in its perimeter two grooves, t, the major parts of which are parallel to each other,

- but which cross each other at one point at an angle of about forty-five degrees, presenting at the point of intersection the form of the letter X. This double cam operatesa lever, E, having its fulcrum on a spindle on the draw-bar and pivoted to the dropper-slide. This lever haspivoted to its end adouble-con? vex traveler, j, moving freelyin grooves 'i, and

passing readily at the intersection of said grooves from the one to the other, thus imparting to lever E at the moment of passing the junction of the camgrooves a rapid vibration, and to the slide a correspondinglyquick reciprocation.

The frame 1) is suitably braced transversely by the bars h and longitudinally by the bars h. To the side bars and braces hare secured the bars 1, extending out beyond the sides of the frame D a sufficient distance, and afford ing bearings to a shaft, F, upon the ends of which are keyed or otherwise secured the hubs 1, having projecting spokes 11 provided alternately with long and short feet at m.

The marker-wheels thus described, and designated by the letter Gr, actuate, by means of an endless chain, G, passing around chainwheel 01, and a larger chain-wheel, d upon the shaft of the marker-wheels Gr, the dropperslide aforesaid, and thereby deliver the seed at proper intervals. The feet on m are angular in cross-section and make clearly-marked impressions in the soil of different lengths, the longest impressions being those in which the seed is dropped, and the short ones being merely to create a distinction at the endof the row and indicate how a start should be made thereat. Connected to the shaft of the markerwheels by means of a link, It, is a lever, H, having its fulcrum in uprights on the axle of the transporting-wheels and extending to the rear under the drivers seat. By forcing this sition by engaging said prop with the rear cross-bar of the latter.

By raising the runners by the usual means the apparatus may be driven from place to place or turned at the end of the row without actuating the dropper.

J indicates a vertically-vibrating lever pivoted to the front bar of the frame of the marker and having both vertical and horizontal vibration. This lever extends to the rear within convenient reach of the driver, and is provided with a rigid projecting arm, t, extending across the face of the wheel (1 but not in contact therewith except when the lever is thrown to the right, when the enlarged end of said arm passes between the teeth of the said wheel and looks it against further movement. On the under side of this lever is a pivoted arm, z, the extremity of which is held in contact with the wheel, or nearly so, by a spring, 8. The marking-feet being raised, as above described, off the ground, the driver can, at the end of the rows, by operating this lever, bring the desired foot directly over the mark in the soil on either side, and then lower the wheels until the foot drops into it, when by starting the team the corn or seed will drop precisely in line with the hills already planted.

The distance between the middle of the lengths of the feet on opposite sides of the apparatus is precisely the same as the space included between three adjoining rows. Consequently the marks are midway between the last row planted and that adjacent thereto bein g planted on one side and the other row being planted and the first row of the next crossing, and each wheel steps back in its own tracks every crossing except the first. The lateral play of the marker-frame allows the planter to SWGIVB or turn without throwing out the marking blades or feet.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination, with a planter having the horizontally-vibrating bolster O, a shaft, 0, extending through it endwise, and a cam, 01, operating the dropper, and a chain-wheel, cl, arranged on said shaft in a slot of the bolster, of the frame D, the shaft F, carrying the chainwheel d and marker-wheels G, and pivoted to the ends of shaft 0, and an endless chain passing around wheels r1 d substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the above 1 have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses. I

WILLIAM F. SENTER.

Witnesses:

A. A. NEWMAN, JOHN RocKHoLD. 

